Al_Ashrad

I believe it is a primary residence thing. In my state at least there is an audit for double-voting as we have Election Day Registration and they have to make sure people aren't voting in multiple areas. As for which residence is the primary residence, that's typically a matter of voter intent, so if you have multiple places where you qualify to vote, you pick one.

I used to work in Wisconsin elections, so I know they don't authorize a provisional ballot for an election day registration without proof of residence (see the manual citation), despite what the state law seems to say. I haven't personally been affected by this, but it has bothered me for a long time as no one can seem to give me a satisfactory answer on why a provisional ballot isn't an option for voters in this situation. A voter may not have time to go get a proof of residence before polls close, so a provisional ballot seems like the only reasonable solution, but alas, it's not authorized per the state manual.

1. Closed Primaries are limited to the members of those parties ostensibly to prevent members of other parties from bolstering the weaker candidate to benefit their party's candidate in the general election. It's my understanding that you don't have to register with a party in any state if you're willing to sit out the primary.

2. Not 100% sure here, but I think it was a deal struck between the parties and the state to bring about primary elections in the first place. It used to be the "smoke-filled back room" where party elites chose the candidate for the general election and the average voter had no say. Primary elections are a way to bring the average citizen into the process, but parties still wanted some assurance that the other party wouldn't tamper with their primary.

3. There is a healthy debate that comes up each election cycle. Do a Google news search for "closed primary" and you'll see plenty of op-eds each way.

Thanks for doing this again. This was my question from last time and I'm still looking for an answer if you have any insights.

Wisconsin seems to be ignoring part of its state law that authorizes the option of provisional voting for voters who cannot provide proof of residence at the time of registration. I have read the relevant law Wis. Stat. s 6.97(1) and the state's Election Day Manual and I don't understand why a provisional ballot is not an option in this scenario. Any thoughts?

So this is not entirely a voter registration question, but something that has always bothered me in my home state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin seems to be ignoring part of its state law that authorizes the option of provisional voting for voters who cannot provide proof of residence at the time of registration. I have read the relevant law (Wis. Stat. s 6.97(1)) and the state's Election Day Manual and I don't understand why a provisional ballot is not an option in this scenario. Any insight?